'Levelling up': What does it mean for Wales?

[tracym]

Increased support for developing new technologies and better broadband are among the promises UK ministers say will help boost prosperity in Wales.

They also say a new fund - replacing European Union (EU) cash which is now being wound down - will "decentralise" money to local areas across Wales.

It comes as the UK government publishes its plan to "level up" poorer parts of the UK.

But the Welsh government says funding decisions by UK ministers have left Wales worse off since leaving the EU.

What is levelling up?

Levelling up is Boris Johnson's big promise to voters in the former Labour seats - like those in north Wales - that went Tory in the 2019 general election.

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He said he would make sure government investment was spread more widely around the UK so their towns and cities could become more prosperous and offer better job prospects for the people who live there.

[joselync]

There is recognition that levelling up cannot be achieved by one government department alone. This is obvious, but nonetheless true and overlooked in past initiatives. We cannot make this country more equal by just focusing on the economy and ignoring health education or housing. (We need to consider progressive taxation and welfare spending too, but there is scant mention of that in the White Paper).